Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-05-05
DUEL BETWEEN TWO SToRKS.

The popular superstition according TO
which storbs, when deprived of their
mates, are supposed to spend the remain
der of their lives in solitary grief, mourn
ing over the loss of the departed one, has
Just received rude shock. According to
the following account, OF which the truth
is vouched for, it would appear that the
female stork is just as liable to err from
the path of virtue as the remainder of
her sex. For several years past a couple
of storks had been in the habit of spend
ing the summer months in a comfortable
nest which they had laboriously construct
ed on the gable end of a barn which
formed Il part of farm not far from
Buda- Pesth. They used to arrive in the
early spring, hatch the regalar number
of eggs, and, after spending the hot days
of July and August III educating their
young, would all fly off to warmer
cline on the approach of winter. Last
summer they arrived as usual, and after
time began TO devote all their energies
to Matching the eggs. When the hen bird
WAS not sitting, the husband would grave
ly take her place, carefully spreading
himself in such a manner rs TO cover all
the unborn olive branches of the family.
j
when the little ones were about to make
their entry into the world, a great noise
was heard on the roof of the barn. Look
ing upward the farmer preceived that a
new male stork of unusual size and beauty
had made his arrival and was engaged in
warm discussion with the couple estab
lished in the nest. Clapper, clapper,
clapper went the long bills; feathers be-
gan to be ruffled ard at length, aroused
by some terribly insulting expression on
the part of the stranger, the male bird
issued forth from his nest and began a
pitched battle in defense of his honor and
! home. The duel lasted for q long time,
and the battle waxed fast and furious.
Curiously enough, the hen bird did not
attempt to take the slightest part in the
combat. She showed some evidence of
excitement, occasionally stood up In the
nest and made some remark with her bill
and wings in stork language, and then sat
down again upon her eggs. When the sun
went down the strange stork flew away,
both of the combatants covered with
blood. The hen bird received her lord
and master with all signs OF a most exag
gerated affection, and appeared to con
graduate him on his gallant conduct.
The next morning however, the stranger
reappeared, and recommended the battle
of the day before. Thoroughly exasper-
ated against the intruder, the farmer got
out his gun, and, forgetful of the super
stition which exists against killing a
stork, fired at the strange bird. Sad TO
relate instead of killing the later, the hus-
band stork fell lifeless to the ground.
| Curiously enough, the sound of the gun
/ did not appear TO create the least impress
sion on the remaining birds. The hen
| stOIk did not make the slightest attempt
TO continue the struggle or to take TO
| fight. She remained quietly sitting on
her nest, the stranger standing some
| distance off. Gradually he began to edge
along the ridge of the roof toward the
nest, end when he got quite close thereto
/ the heu likewise arose and stood upright.
/ Fer more than an hous they remained
| standing next to one another engaged in
/ the most eager discussion. At length
| they seemed to have come to an under
/ standing. After a moments pause they
suddenly hoped into the nest, and work
/ ing like very furIes, they united their eff
1 forts in throwing the whole of the eggs out
/ of it on the ground below. As soon as
they had completed this work OF distruc-
ton, they both appeared to be slightly
overcome, and for about ten minutes re-
NAMED standing perfectly still, each on
ono leg, their bills resting on each Others
shoulder. At length they simultaneously
| flew up into the air, and after circulating
round few times disappeared ont OF
sight.
1t may be only coincidence, but within
{ Al u l.
the barn, but large portion of the farm
buildings was destroyed by fire, entailing
heavy loss on the proprietor.